Manuel Gives Thanks
Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 10:11AM
Manuel here. Has it really been a year since the last time I gave thanks (not coincidentally with another pic of Ms Blanchett)? I feel as though I should be giving thanks in front of some sort of food, so imagine I’ve come with a full dozen donuts from Donut Time.
I’m thankful…
- For unabashedly queer Christmas flicks featuring fab ladies.
- For having had the chance to see over twenty-four films at the New York Film Festival (and having been in the same room as Kate Winslet!!)
- For Wiig, in all and every incarnation.
- For Joy and Joy (and consequently, Amy Poehler and Brie Larson).
- For all the delicious food on Please Like Me, a show you should all be watching!
- For Mad Men’s beautiful and perfect ending.
- For Twelve Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer, one of the greatest TV episodes this year.
- For Ben Whishaw, in all and every incarnation. (What a year he's had: Spectre, Suffragette, The Lobster, etcetera)
- For Sutton Foster, National Treasure, who was luminous in The Wild Party.
- For Adele’s laughter (and music).
- For Anna Kendrick, whose “Still Hurting” is still making me ache.
- For TV’s funny ladies. And really, that image doesn't do justice to the amazing talent on display this year (Gina! Constance! Tracee! Ellie! Amy! Ilana! Abbi! The entire Orange is the New Black cast!)
And lastly...
- For all of you who comment and indulge me as I gab about gay things on HBO. Can you believe it's been a full six months since I started this cultural history? It definitely wouldn't be the same without the engaging and generous TFE community, so thank you all for following along!
Manuel Betancourt (News / HBO LGBT)
An avid moviegoer, this academically minded Colombian wrote an entire dissertation on queer film fandom as, perhaps, a way of reconciling his inner critic and inner fan. Both thankfully, are given plenty of room to play here at TFE & at Manuel's own blog where he puts his queer theory training to work. His favorite film genre is "soul-crushingly depressing if beautifully lensed relationship dramas with juicy parts for actresses." Follow him on Twitter!
Reader Comments (14)
You could have said For Joy (Inside Out) and Joy (Room) but not for Joy (Joy) as a joke.
Thank you, handsome. And all the contributors. TFE keeps getting better and better.
Thanks for reminding me about the Mad Men finale; that always puts a spring in my step.
And thanks for the HBO LGBT series. It's been one of the features here that I look forward to most.
Great post! I like how you love 2 Joys and neither of them are from "Joy" (most likely for reason of "sight unseen" but still). All in with you on Larson's Joy. I'll second Ben Whishaw because of how much he does with so little in most of his films (especially Suffragette). Also just realized that you went to Rutgers. Small world.
I'll add my thanks for the BFI LFF (and for the BFI generally, really) and for a pair of bold Danish "historical" dramas which took my breath away (Gold Coast and Land of Mine). If only more historical dramas were as beautiful and immersive, rather than (too often) fossilized and reverential in a detached museum display kind of way.
Love Ben Whishaw. Are you watching him in London Spy?
I just hope enough people are watching Please Like Me so that we can get another season. (Why did Adele the Hen trapped inside a Rooster have to die?)
You name-checked all of the great funny ladies, I had trouble thinking of anyone to add, but Niecy Nash on Scream Queens came to mind (she makes the show worth watching).
Ben (The Danish Girl) Whishaw?
Thanks, Manuel, for all these reminders/tips!
Yes! I love the role food plays on Please Like Me (or really, as a lover of food, I like when it features in any show or movie).
And thanks for your work! Your insights and writings is always informative and interesting. The HBO series in particular is great.
Don't forget Ben as the voice of Paddington - possibly his best role. Although I haven't seen Lobster yet. He's doing great in London Spy.
I will check out Please Like Me - but food lovers - The Great British Bake Off is the best possible Thanksgiving offering. Do yourselves a favour and binge on Netflix.
A big thank you to all of the staff at TFE you make it such an interesting place to come to every day.
LadyEdith - yes! The Great British Baking Show (as it's called here in the States) is fantastic.
Volvagia, I did consider making my Joy/Joy line be shadier towards J-Law, but in all honesty, I haven't yet seen the film so didn't want to do so that explicitly.
Rene: I am LOVING him in London Spy! Such a fascinating show. (And yes, poor Adele!)
DJDeeJay & LadyEdith, GBBO is definitely on my Netflix queue!
Please Like Me is so smart and funny but also surprisingly poignant. Love love love it.
Anna Kendrick's interpretation was so fresh! Especially in her final songs, she got so much of the joy and sexuality that so many Cathy's gloss over!
Your HBO series is so vital! We forget what an ally HBO has been when we've been denied seeing our own stories by other major players.
Oh, you're the cutest! Loved, loved, loved the HBO series!
DJDeeJay & Manuel - So happy to hear that the GBBO (no other titles will do) is part of your life. Especially since I'm related to both Mel & Sue, you know. ;)